1. Get Air Aware with eCards!

With Air Aware eCards, students use the eCards website to research air pollutants and learn about their health and environmental impacts. Students then create an eCard about air quality with their own Air Aware eCardsmessage and graphics, and send it to a friend, family member or decision maker.

Designed for Canadian students in grades 10 to 12, Air Aware eCards takes 3 to 6 class periods. See this new research unit at the eCards website. Choose AIR AWARE under the TOPICS menu. For air quality curriculum connections for grades 10 to 12, look under the ABOUT ECARDS menu.

This exciting new eCards unit was made possible by Clean Air Champions. Visit their Air Aware website to find other activities and games for students in grades 10 to 12. Air Aware is a national curriculum-linked program that aims to educate youth in grades 10 to 12 about the importance of adopting practices that enhance personal and environmental health.

2. New Youth Engagement Program in Toronto

GreenLearning is partnering with the York Weston Community Services Centre in Toronto to pilot an engagement program for youth ages 13 to 20 living in some of Toronto's highest risk neighbourhoods.

Youth engagement at York Weston in 2009The youth engagement program has two main goals:

  • to foster civic engagement and leadership through environmental stewardship
  • to help integrate the youth, many of whom are immigrants or refugees, into Toronto culture.

The pilot program will be held over spring break from March 15–19. Modeled on GreenLearning's Redfish School of Change, subsequent programs are expected to extend for more than a week and take youth outside the city.

The Weston Public Library will host a public information session on February 23 from 6:30–8:00 pm. Registration begins the following week. If you are interested in contributing to the design of this unique program, consider participating in an upcoming focus group. For more information, contact Elaine Ho, Youth Engagement Coordinator.

Elaine Ho, CoordinatorElaine joins the GreenLearning team on a workterm from the Honours Environment and Resource Studies program at the University of Waterloo. An alumni of the 2009 Redfish School of Change, Elaine recently participated in COP 15 in Copenhagen as a student delegate. She is also the co-founder of SWITCH, Solar and Wind Initiatives Toward Change, and its elementary chapter, SWITCH 'EM.

3. Attend a BC Workshop to Develop EnerAction

Would you like to help shape our new sustainable transportation unit? This winter, schools in British Columbia and Ontario have been pilot testing new EnerAction lessons and case studies. Next week, you can join a workshop in Vancouver or Richmond to contribute to this stage of the development process.

  • Vancouver, BC, at the Vancouver School Board Office, February 15, 9:00–11:00 am. Contact Kevin Millsip to register. 
  • Richmond, BC, Quilchena Elementary School (3760 Moresby Dr.), February 15, 12:45–2:30 pm. Contact Rosalind Poon to register. 

EnerAction, a comprehensive resource on energy conservation and efficiency, is designed for grades 4 through 7.

4. Lights Out on Earth Day, April 22

Lights Out CanadaOn April 22, Lights Out Canada encourages schools across the country to turn off the lights and switch on education about global warming and sustainability. Lights Out Canada is a youth-led national initiative that is gaining considerable momentum:

  • More than 250 schools participated in 2009.
  • The goal for 2010: 350 schools!


Visit Lights Out Canada to learn more and to download their Lesson Plan and Event Guide.

Carbon CalculatorAs you explore lighting reduction with your class, make use of GreenLearning's interactive Carbon Calculator. Used in conjunction with EnerAction Lesson #7, Lighting at School, students investigate the costs in energy and in greenhouse gases to light their classrooms. They calculate the dollars as well as the kilograms of greenhouse gases that it takes to light the classroom, then identify ways to save energy and track their success.

5. What's My Password?

password recoveryCan't remember your password?

Click here to get your GreenLearning password and access our resources.

6. Our Thanks

A special thanks this month to  

  • The Catherine Donnelly Foundation—an organization dedicated to advancing the principles of economic, social and ecological justice—for its support of the 2010 Redfish School of Change.
  • Bullfrog Power for featuring GreenLearning's interactive wind turbine in a recent issue of Bullfrog Buzz. 
  • An Anonymous Donor at the Toronto Community Foundation for its fourth year of support for GreenLearning's education programs.

Our sponsors